Box Score In the first round of the Western District Tournament, the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes took on the Trinidad State Junior College Trojans
 
By Harrison Howard/csncoyotes.com
May 14, 2015
 
Las Vegas, NV- The post season continues for the CSN Coyotes, after their Region 18 Tournament Championship last weekend.  The Coyotes will look to continue their strong play from the championship game, where they defeated the Salt Lake Community College Bruins ten to two.  The CSN Coyotes were awarded the right to host this week's upcoming playoffs, making that two weeks in a row the Coyotes hosted a tournament.  The Coyotes first opponent of the Western District Playoffs is the Trinidad State Junior College Trojans.  The Trojans won their version of the Region 18 Tournament, which allowed them to continue their playoff hopes as well. 
 
The Trojans decided to start James Smith against the Coyotes, who has a 3-4 record, posting a 2.62 ERA on the season.  The Coyotes countered with Kayden Porter on the mound, who is 3-1 on the season, with a 4.21 ERA and 27 strikeouts.  Porter added to his season strikeout total instantly, after striking out the side in the top of the first inning.  The Coyotes took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, after starting left fielder Jesse Keiser's opposite field home run.  In the top of the second inning, Kayden Porter continued to deal, striking out another three batters, while only allowing one hit.  The Coyotes broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning scoring eight runs, behind the two run home run by Cain Brady and the three run home run by Ali Deolarte.
 
The TSJC Trojans answered right back with three runs of their own in the top of the third inning, lead by a two RBI double off the center field wall from starting right fielder Armando Valencia.  Porter got into some more trouble in the top of the fourth inning after a error by short stop Cain Brady, a walk and a hit by pitch, Trojans lead off batter Alex Rodgers singled to center field decreasing the Coyotes lead to five runs.  The next batter Bronson Butcher grounded out to third base allowing another run to cross home plate.  Porter was able to strike out the last batter of the inning, making that his ninth strikeout on the night, Coyotes still lead nine to five. 
 
Starting first baseman Ali Deolarte was at it again, hitting a solo home run down the right field line, for his third hit and second home run in the game.  Deolarte's home run was the first run scored off Trojans' relief pitcher, Humberto Montiel.  Kayden Porter's game was finished after the rough fourth inning, and relief pitcher Josh Nuernberg entered the game in the top of the fifth inning.  The pitching change didn't seem to slow down the Trojans' bats who added another two runs in the top of the fifth inning, leaving the score at 10 to seven in favor of the CSN Coyotes.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Coyotes starting right fielder and Region 18 Tournament MVP, Kenny Meimerstorf singled up the middle scoring two more runs, giving them a five run lead again.  The first scoreless half inning since the bottom of the third inning came in the top of the sixth inning, where Coyotes' pitcher Josh Nuernberg, struck out two hitters and got one to ground out softly to end the inning.  The TSJC Trojans countered right back with a scoreless half inning of their own against the CSN Coyotes in the bottom of the sixth. 
 
After another shut down inning by Nuernberg, Cain Brady lead off the bottom of the seventh inning with a triple to right center field, which caused the Trojans to bring in their third relief pitcher of the game, Dalton Lewis.  Brady scored due to a balk by Lewis, increasing the Coyotes the lead, 13 to seven.  The Trojans intentionally walked Coyotes' designated hitter Mason Hayes, and unintentionally walked Ali Deolarte to load the bases.  Dalton Lewis was able to get Coyotes' outfielder Matt Waldren to foul out to first base for the second out of the inning.  With the run rule in play, Coyotes' third baseman Jose Verdugo hit a walk off RBI single to left field, giving the victory to the Coyotes 15 to seven.  Josh Nuernberg earned his fourth win of the season
 
The College of Southern Nevada Coyotes next game is tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm against the Yavapai College Roughriders.  For the latest news, the complete 2015 Coyote postseason baseball schedule, including the Western District Playoff Tournament, and more of my articles covering each playoff series, please visit www.csncoyotes.com.  Follow us on Twitter @CSNCoyotes, for live scoring updates and in game tweets.